
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi
have expressed their desire that the existing bilateral relations
between the two neighbouring countries would be further strengthened in
future.
"The two leaders have expressed their hopes that the existing
bilateral relations between Bangladesh-India will be deepened further in
the days to come," Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud told a news
briefing in early hours of today.
The expectations came at a one-to-one meeting (tete-e-tete) between
the two prime ministers after the swearing-in ceremony of the cabinet of
Modi government at Rashtrapati Bhaban on Sunday evening.
During the meeting held in a very warm and friendly atmosphere, the
Bangladesh prime minister invited her Indian counterpart to visit Dhaka
at his convenient time, Hasan said.
The bilateral relations between Bangladesh and India have reached a
new height under the prudent leadership of Sheikh Hasina and Narendra
Modi, he said.The foreign minister said the two premiers later attended a banquet
hosted by Indian President Smt. Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Senior Indian ministers, Bangladesh delegation, invited head of the
other governments and states attended the dinner where they had brief
interactions, he said.
Hasan said they also had exchanged pleasantries at that time.
Replying to a query about expectations from each other as the Modi
government has run his state for the last 10 years along with Sheikh
Hasina's tenure for already 15 years in Bangladesh; the foreign minister
said Bangladesh and India have multifaceted relations.
"Many issues are involved between the two countries. As both the
governments continue, there are some benefits in doing work together,"
he said.
The people from both the countries are being benefitted in terms of
different aspects that include connectivity from the friendly relations
of both the nations, he added.
"Our multi-dimensional deep relations will spread and be consolidated further in future," Hasan hoped.
Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Md Mustafizur Rahman and PM's
Press Secretary M Nayeemul Islam Khan were present, among others, at the
briefing.Sheikh Hasina also held separate meetings with President of Sri Lanka
Ranil Wickremesinghe and Union Minister of India and its former
External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar at her Place of Residence here
this morning.
The Bangladesh prime minister arrived in New Delhi on Saturday to
attend the oath-taking ceremony of the new Indian government at the
invitation of her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi. Sheikh Hasina reached Dhaka from the Indian capital this evening.